The ‘sold out’ sign has hung over Optus Stadium for the last two weeks and Billy Pollard is feeling the love in Perth.
Despite last week's nine-point loss to New Zealand at Eden Park, the Wallabies are flying high in 2025 following famous wins over the Springboks, Pumas and Lions, and Pollard says the momentum and positivity has carried over across the Nullabor for their first Test of the year.
Watch the Wallabies tackle the All Blacks live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
“It’s surreal,” Pollard told reporters on Monday afternoon.
“To have the opportunity to play here is something that's really important and quite special to us. We're just really looking forward [to it], it's a sold-out crowd.
“You can see the momentum. It's just about trying to go out there and deliver for the crowd.
“For me personally, it [the outside noise] doesn't change anything. We understand how good New Zealand are and we have to be at our very best to be able to beat them, but for me personally it doesn't really play a factor.”
The Wallaby hooker didn’t hide away from his side's close loss in Auckland but is backing the Australia to come back even stronger at home seven days on.
“It's obviously quite hard after the game,” Pollard said about the mood in the Eden Park sheds.
“All the boys were down, but the beauty of the two weeks is you get another chance this weekend. You don't really have time to feel sorry for yourself.
“You need to get on with the job this week, and that's something that's really exciting for us.”
For Pollard, that starts on the training paddock and the Wallabies have plenty of motivation with four big returns in Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Josh Flook and Nic White.
“We've all tried [to get rid of him], but he just keeps finding his way back,” Pollard joked about White’s second return from retirement.
“It's very good to have him back.
“It all starts with training for us… just a matter of doing the one percenters right.
“Whether it's onside or getting the ruck right, it doesn't really matter. It's just about nailing those fundamentals that we have in our game, and make sure that transfers onto the field.”
Spirits are high but Pollard knows how important breaking a 10-game losing streak against the All Blacks is - and not just for their Rugby Championship hopes.
“I think everyone in this team just wants to win,” he said simply.
“That's the whole reason we're here and it can get frustrating when you come so close.
“I think for us it's just about being accountable and understanding that all those games were well within our reach and our control.
“It's just about us being better in whatever part of the game you want to pick, but we just have to be better to close off the game or to start better.
“There's obviously going to be a little bit of frustration [at the losses], but we are also at the same tim,e happy with the way we're trending.
“But, at the end of the day, it's about winning and that's what we'll look to do this weekend.”
